Pump



Feb. 17, 1942. K. BuRGEss PUMP Filed Oct. 18, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented Feb., 17,194.2

UNITED STATES PATENTv OFFICE.

, PUMP Walter K. Burgess, Riverside, Calif. .application octoberis',1940, serial No. 361,745 l Y1': claims. (c1. 10a-"ssi (Granted under theact of March 3,1883, as

amended April 30, 1928;` 370 0. G. 757') The invention described hereinmay be'manufactured andused by or for the Government for governmentalpurposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates lto improvements'. in pumps and an 'object of theimprovements is to provide a four stage rotary screw and centrifugaltiple impellertype; the rotor being designed to .occupy substantiallythe normal space of a single impeller. f

Another object of the invention is to provide a multi-stage rotary screwand centrifugal pump of limited overall dimension and large capacitywith opposed intakes.

Another object is to provide, in such a pump,

means of varying both the volume and the -pressure Within wide limits.

A further object is to provide a pump of simple, sturdy, design andrequiring little or no attention through long periods of operation.

Briefly, the invention embodies two'oppositely disposed screws feedinginto a rotary central common chamber from which the fluid or liquid`fuel is discharged by centrifugal force through apertures into an outerchamber from which it passes through the outlet port; the flow of thefuel being assisted by propeller blades on the rotary central chamber.

In the drawings i Figure l is i, a vertical longitudinal sectional viewof a pump constructed in accordance with the invention and having atangential outlet;

Figure Zis 'a ,sideview, partly in elevation and partly in section, ofthe pump shown in Figure 1;- Figure 3 is a detail vie W,rin perspectiveand on an enlarged scale,.of a fragment ofthe pump rotor showing theradialbuckets;

Figure 4 isa section online |'4` of Figure 3;'- Figure 5 is a detailview'of a section of the the propeller-like Figure 9 is a detail viewillustrating the provision of a pulley on the pump as a means for vdriving the latter:

Figure 10. is a longitudinal section view of the pump as modified tohave a lateral instead of a tangential outlet;

Figure 11 is a-detail sectional view of an intake and feed pipeconnection;

Figure 12 is a section on line I2-I2 of Figure 1;

Figure 13 is a section on line I3-l3 of Figure v 12; and

Figure 14 is a detail view, in perspective, of the terminal constructionof the Archimedean screw.

The stator casing of the pump shown in 4Iliigures l and 2 consists of acentral 'or peripheral channel section I0 and opposite side belliedsections I I and I2 defining a rotor chamber which is of ellipticalsection in the direction of the rotor axisbut of substantially circularcross section in a direction perpendicular to the axis. Section I0 is sodimensioned that the channel formed theretion of'a fuel tank with thepumpstalled in th sump thereon; i

Figures 'I and 8 are detail viewsillustrating the use of dierent sizesof rings for varying the pump pressure and volume;

by increases in 'capacity from point D to Da, in

la counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2. This provides acircumferential chamber Ilia vof large capacity to receive the dischargefrom the rotor.' This chamber has its' outlet cular portion of theperipheral section I0. Hence chamber 10a and conduit I3 form atangential outlet whichtapers two ways to the peripheral be separatelyformed flanged units detachablyA fastened together at their flangedextremities by cap screws or other suitable means, as shown at lIl withweld spots for the heads oi' the cap screws. As an alternate method, theperipheral section may be cast'lntegral with either side sec- .through apipe or conduit Il tangent to the cirtion, the other side section beingdetachable..

Each side section has a journal box I! with suitable packing IB andinner and outer ball races il to `supportthe journals of the rotor; theboxbeing externally screw threaded to receive the packing nut Il. Theinner bearing race is lubri cated by the liquid of the pump; theouterrby lubricant through cup or other conventional means. 1

Each side section is provided with a pedestal Il for mounting the pumpin a sump or another sweated or otherwise secured to turn as a unittherewith. The shell is formed with a central chamber 20 which iselliptical in the direction of the axis but circular in a directionperpendicular to the axis. 'Tubular extensions 2l and 22 at oppositesides'of the central chamber and corr` centric with the axis of thechamber provide inlets for the chamber and are flared at their outeropen ends 23 to admit the fuel or liquid to be pumped. For reasonshereinafter explained, the

diameter A--A of chamber 20 is preferably twice the diameter B-B ofeither inlet tube 2l or 22.

Hence, chamber 20 has a capacity which is four vide acircular-elliptical chamber surrounding the rotor chamber and incommunication with the interior of the rotor chamber through a pluralityof orifices 26 in the inclosing Wall of the latter. The number and sizeof the orifices 26 preferably are so proportioned that the sum totalorice area presented thereby is greater than the capacity of the pipesor tubes 2| and 22. Chamber 25 is divided into two concentriccompartments of Venturi-like cross section -by concentric impeller onthe rotor. In the disclosed embodimentlof the invention, this is shownas comprising a centrally located outstanding concentric ange or ridge21 on. the periphery of the rotor chamber 20. The ridge is fluted,grooved, or otherwise provided, on opposite sides to provide three-sidedradial buckets 28,` open on their outsides, as shown to advantage inFig- -ures 2 and 3. These buckets extend into the peripheral section l0of the stator casing and serve 'to pick up the liquid from thecompartments of the stator chamber 25. Each bucket is in directcommunication with the interior of 4the rotor chamber 20 through abottom opening 23. For reasons of stress and vibration, the radialbuckets are staggeredly arranged along their central division.

The tlow of liquid from the compartments of the -stator chamber 25 intothe buckets 28 is accelerated by small propeller-like blades onandperpendicular to the outer surface of the rotor chamber 20. Twogroups of such blades are provided in each compartment, each grouppreferably consisting of four equi-spaced blades; the blades of onegroup being staggered with respect to the blades of the other group. Theoutermost group of blades 30 is set low on the outer circular peripheryof the elliptical rotor shell and, the innermost group of blades 39a isset high, as seen in Figures 1 and 5. On each side of che ridge 21 isadurai ring 3| of the crosssectional design shown and concentric withthe 'rotor axis. These rings bridge the open sides of the buckets 28and. nt closely against the inner top surfaces of the side sections Iland l2 of the stator casing adjacent their connections with theperipheral section l0. Each ring has an integrally formed annularattaching flange 32 extending into the peripheral s ection to be`engaged by the fastening members Il. These rings are designed to reducethe crosssectional areas of the passages through which liquid flows intothe buckets 28 from the compartments of the stator chamber 25, andprovide, in effect, an annular series of Venturi-like apertures orpassages 33 on opposite sides of and adjacent the base or root of theconcentric impeller 2l. Dierently sized and interchangeable sets orpairs of such rings are provided for selective use whereby the pressureand volume of the pump may be carried Within the Figures 7 and 8illustrate, on a reduced scale, the use of differently sized rings, therings 3Ia. of Figure 7 'proportionately being of smaller size than therings 3| of Figure 1 while the rings 3Ib of Figure 8 are proportionatelylarger.

The impeller core of the rotor comprises a number of centrifugalimpellerblades or vanes arranged within and dividing the rotor chamber2i) radially along 'its axis into compartments, and a feed screw orhelical conveyor within and coextensive in length with each tubularextension or inlet. The screws are oppositely pitched to feed into thecompartments of the chamber 20 during the pumping action of the rotor.In the construction illustrated, the impeller core consists of twoArchimedean double spirals or co-axial screws 34 and 34a rightand lefthand pitch, respectively, each screw providing four separate paths orchannels for the 'liquid flow. These screws are spaced apart at theirinner opposing -terminals'by a four-bladed centrifugal impeller 35. Thecentrifugal impeller may be formed as an integral part of the doublespirals 34 and 34a by enlarging and straightening the double spiralvanes V and Va of the impeller core so asV to cause them to bisect eachother at right angles along the axis of the screws. Hence, the centralrotor chamber 20 is divided into four 'equal quadrants, and each tubularextension 2l and 22 is divided into four spiral liquid conduits as shownin Figure 2. Each quadrant receives the discharge from one of theconduits of the left hand screw and also from the corresponding spiralconduit of the right hand screw. Obviously, the impeller core may beconstructed to provide any other desired number of central chambercompartments and spiral conduits.

These compartments prevent any slippage of uid on the inner periphery ofthe chamber during rotation of the rotor whereby the motion of the uiddischarged thereinto from the Archimedean spirals is eifectively changedfrom a helical path to one of rotation 'in a plane at right angles tothat of the axis of rotation. At the outwardly flared ends`23 of thetubular extensions the vanes V and 4Va of the impeller screws extend inplanes bisecting each other at right angles along the axis of the screw,as shown in Figure 14. rfhese straight or flattened sections of thevanes are provided at their outer edges Withblades or deiiectors e, f. 9and h, angularly inclined and pitched in the manner illustrated to impelthe liquid into the flared ends of the tubes during the rotation of thelatter. By the action of centrifugal force, the uid is forced outwardlyfrom each compartment through the .multiple orices in the surface ofchamber 20.

For reasons of manufacture, the impeller core is in two parts,threadably joined at 36.

Various methods and means, suitable to a particular location andmounting of the pump, may be used to transmit power vto the pump forturning the rotor. In Figures l and 2, the pump is shown mounted in thesump 3T of a fuel tank 38. Each inlet 2l and 22 of the rotor is disposedwholly within the sump and has-a driving spider shown in Figures 1 and12, .preferably consists of four -equidistant members or arms 3!radiating in a common plane from a hub and'hav- Y ing right angleextensions Il. These extensions to the inlet. Each arm of the spider isbeveled in cross section 'to function las an impeller .for

y 2,273,558 3 operatively therewith. This spider, as v pointed out anddescribed, the pump shown in Figure is structurally similar' to thepump. shown in Figure 1 and both types of pump func-` tion in likemanner. l

In the operation of the pump, the uid is impelled into the flared inletends of the tubular casting the liquid inward, that is, toward theinlet', and in addition is provided on its leading edge with a featheredscooping lip or vane I2.

kA. hollow shaft 43 is rotatably supportedY in a packed bearing M in aside wall of the sump with its inner end secured to the hub of thespider and its outer end connected by gearing 4i with the drive shaftyof a motor It. Suitable clutches l1 are included in the" powertransmission for securingor breaking rotative continuity between therotor and the driving devices. One driving device is suiiicient tooperate the pump but two may be provided so that if one device fails,the othermay be set Vin operation. In the event that a belt or pulleydrive is desired. either or v both extensions of the rotormay beprovided with a pulley II as illustrated in Figure 9. x A means-ofconnecting the outer ends of the rotating intakesZl and 22 of the rotorto stationary supply or feed pipes is shown in Figure 11, whereinadjacent ends of an intake and a A stumng gland Il is threadedly engagedwith the pipe end IS and provides a bearing for the rotating intake 22over and around which it extends as illustrated. 'I'he gland is providedwith the packing Il and a packing nut 52.

For mounting in a tube or capsule, where the maximum capacity within aminimum overall diameter is desired', a casing exit variation type ofpump is provided, as illustrated in Figure 10. In this type, one sidesection 53 of the stator casing is provided with a angedextension il towhich the larger flanged end i5 of the peripheral section 5I isconnected by suitable means pump mounting, suchas the pedestal I2, ispro-L vided on the stator casing side section 53; the

other unit is integral with the peripheral secfeed pipe are indicated at22 and 49', respectively.

' surface.

extensions of the rotor bythe action of the cast- Y Y ing impellers I!and the deflectors e, f, y and h at the respective inlets of theextensions. The

liquid is then acted upon by the screws and #la and forcibly fedinto theseparate compartments of the rotor central chamber 20'. VThis is thefirst stage of the pumping operation. 'Ihe A A over the inlet diameterB--B and fly quickly to the circular periphery of the chamber 20 andexit through its perforated colander-like pacity provided bythe diameterB-B.r Therefore, there is created in the central chamber 20 inproportion to the centrifugal force a partial vacuum which tends toaccelerate the feed of the fluid from the inlet and increase theefficiency of the iirst stage. The fluid exiting from the revolvingchamber `2li enters the outer stationary chamber 25 and passes throughthe Venturi passages 33. In this, the third stage, the propeller bladeslli-30a on the periphery of the rotor asset in evacuating chamber 25 byforcing the iiuid from'both Asides towards the central outlets 33. Inthe fourth and last stage, the fluid .passing through the Venturi-likepassage 33 is pickedup by. the buckets of the concentric impeller anddischarged in large volume at maximum force intothe outlet chamber ofthe stator tion It.. Between' its connections with the stal tor casingside sections, the peripheral section is spaced outwardly from theconcentric impeller I3 and from the rotor casing side section 5l toprovide a large capacity outlet chamber il to receive the discharge fromtheimpeller buckets 6I. Chamber has its outlet through a pipe or conduitit extending laterally o f the chamber in the axial direction of therotor. The conduit Il is formed as an integra-1 part of the peripheralsection It and, together with the chamber Il is located almost whollywithin the circumferential dimensions of the concentric impeller 63. Inotherwords, as compared with the tangential exit type of pumpillustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the lateral exit type of pump shown inFigure 10 is of smaller total overall diameter. Aside frcnrthe specificdistinguishing features already casing` peripheral section. Fluid alsopasses directly from the rotor chamber 20 to each buck'et of theconcentric impeller through the 'opening in the root or bottom of thebucket. From the outlet chamber, the fluid passes under pressure vthrough the pump outlet for conveyance in any suitable manner to thepoint or points of delivery. Y

^ It is understood that although the pump structures hereindescribed andillustrated embody certain specific designs, the ideas andY principlesdisclosed are by no means limited to these same,

but'are applicable Vto and may be used with any number of other suitabledesigns and variations as conditions may indicate.

Having thusdisclosed the invention, what is claimed as new andpatentable is:

l. A multi-stage fluid pump having, in combination, a feed screw, acentrifugal impeller having a center intake at the fluid-exit end of thescrew, a chamber enclosing the centrifugal impeller for receiving thefluid-discharge of the centrifugal impeller and having an annular.Venturi-like fluid exit passage, an evacuating pro peller in thelchamber for boosting the iluid now todeiiver it to the outlet chamber.

2. A multi-stage fluid pump having, in combination, a feed screw, acentrifugal impeller hav- This is the second stage. The diameter A-Aprovides for more than twice the catx'iIUgalimpeIlerandevacuatingpropeller's .ing chamber, an evacuating propeller in the fluidreceiving chamber for boosting the fluid flow toward the outietofthesaid chamber, and a centrifugal impeller having circumferentialbuckets operatively associated with the said chambers to receive thedischarge from the iiuid receiving chamber outlet and to deliver it tothe outlet chamber.

3. In a pump, a power-driven rotary tube hav- .ing an enlargedbulbousmiddle portion provided with multiple orifices in its periphery, spiralconduits in the ends of the tube and discharging into the bulbousportion, radial varies in said bulbous portion forming compartmentshaving outlet through the said multiple orifices, a centrifugal impelleron theperiphery of the bulbous portion of the tube and including anannular series of buckets extending radially outward inla common planeperpendicular to the axis of the tube and substantially equidistant fromthe ends of the tube, each of said buckets being open at its side andouter end, a stationary chamber inclosing the said bulbous portion ofthe tube and being of reduced cross sectional area at the open sides ofthe buckets to'provide an annular Venturi orifice on each side oftheimpeller, propellers 'on said bulbous portion and operating in thestationary chamber to assist in the evacuation A thereof, and an outletchamber in communication lwith the outer ends of the impeller buckets.

4. A multi-stage fluid pump having, in combination, a rotating tubehaving an elliptical -bulbous sectionl said section havingmultipleoriflces in the periphery, a spiral inclosed in an open end ofthe tube and connected with the latter to rotate therewith fordelivering uid into said section, means in said section for changing thefluid motion from a helical path to one of rotation in a plane at rightangles to the axis of rotation whereby the uid is expelled centrifugallythrough the peripheral orifices, a stationary annular chamberconcentrically about the bulbous section for 'receiving the iluidexpelled from the said section, said chamber having a concentric annularVenturi-like outlet opening, acircular group of fluid impelling memberswithin the stationary chamber and integral with the periphery of thebulbous section to rotate therewith about the axis of the chamber toforce the fluid in thechamber toward the outlet opening,

-a centrifugal impelller concentric with and con- 5. A multi-stage pumphaving, in 'combination, -flrst stage means including an inductionscrew, second stage means including a centrifu-.

gal impeller at the eduction end of the screw and YYoilarger diameter.than the screw, third stage means including a stationary Venturi chamberof double Venturi-like cross section concentric with and'embracing thesecond stage cegwit - in the chamber concentric with and operativelyconnected with the said centrifugal impeller to turn therewith, andfourth stage means including a centrifugal impeller of larger diameterthan the second stage centrifugal impeller and having a ring of radialdischarge buckets at the eduction throat of the Venturi chamber toreceive the output of the said chamber.

6. A multi-stage pump having, in combination, first stage meansincluding a rotary power driven eduction screw, second stage meansincluding a centrifugal impeller operatively connected-with the screw atthe eduction end of the latter to turn therewith and being of largerdiameter than the screw to boost vthe output thereof, third stage meansincluding a stationary 'Venturi chamber of double Venturi-like crosssection concentric with and embracing the centrifugal impeller andevacuating propellers Within the chamber and operatively connected withthe centrifugal impeller to turn therewith, and fourth stage meansincluding a centrifugal impeller of larger diameter than the secondstage centrifugal impeller and havinga ring of radial discharge bucketsat the eduction throat of the Venturi chamber to receive the output ofsaid chamber, said fourth stage centrifugal impeller being operativelyconnected with the second stage ,centrifugal impeller to rotatetherewith. i

'7. A pump having, in combination, a rotary power-driven vane assemblyyhaving a colanderlike inclosing wall provided with center inletopening, a screw operatively associated with the said assembly to rotatetherewith for delivering uid thereto through the said inlet'opening, a

stationary chamber around said assembly for I re eiving the fluiddischarged through the multiple orifices. in the said colander-likewall, said chamber having a Venturi outlet, and multiple propellers insaid stationary chamber and opera- -tively connected with the vane.assembly to rotate therewith for propelling the fluid of the stationarychamber toward and through the said Venturi outlet.

8. A pump having, in combination, a central elliptical rotatable chamberprovided with a center inlet and a colander-like discharge surface,

said chamber having radial compartments, a

screw at the said inlet and operatively associated with the said chamberto rotate therewith for delivering fluid to the chamber, a stationary.Venturi chamber around and concentric with said rotatable chamber forreceiving the fluid discharged through the multiple orifices in the saidcolander-like discharge surface of the rotatable chamber, said Venturichamber being 4of double- Venturi-like cross section with its annularthroat portion opening radially outward in a central plane perpendicularto the axes of the chambers,

impeller buckets on the periphery of the rotatable chamber and extendingthrough the throat portion of the Venturi chamber, said buckets belingopen at their outer sides and ends, and a outer chamber' beingsubstantially twice the diameter'A of either inlet tube and thenumberand sizes of the multiple Ormces being such that the sum total orificearea thereof is' greater than ,the

oriiice area fthe inlet tubes, a fluid feed screwminted in mi; muetoturnvtnewunand pltchedtodischargeintotheellipticalchamber,radialvanesinsaidchamberiorchanglngthe iiuid motion-from a helical` pathto one of rota- A tionina pianeatrlghtanglestotheaxisofrotation wherebyth'e fluid is expelled from the chamber through the multiple oritlc'esby a directcentritugaltorceequaltotheradiusoithe chamber at any pointplus the speed of rotation and supplemented by the combined force of thescrews and a partialv minus pressure within the ,chamber, a ring ofimpeller bucket on the periphery concentric Venturi-like' orifices oneach side of the impeller buckets, and an outlet chamber' inclosing thebuckets at the discharge outlets thereof;

10. A pump having, in combination, a centrifu- 4 gal impeller having acentral iiuid intake and a radial iluid outlet, a uuid-receiving chamberextending circumierentlally of the said impeller for receiving the iiuiddischarge from the latter,

said chamber having a Venturi-like annular fluid exit passage leadingradially and centrally outward 'of' thechamber, an annular outletchamber extending circumferentially of the fluid-receiving chamber andcovering the said iluid exit passage of the latterv chamber, acentrifugal imber.

1l. A pump having,V in combination, a rotary centriiugal impeller havinga center intake openwithin the chamber 'and reducing the crosssectionalarea'of. the chamber at each side'of the Venturi-like fluid exit passageof the said chaming and radial discharge openings, a iiuid-receivingchamber having its inlet open to the said impeller for receiving theradial discharge from the-latter, and having a Venturi-like outlet, anoutlet chamber contiguous to and in communication with the Venturi-likevoutlet of th'e chamber, and a booster impeller within theiluid-receivingchamber and operatively connected with the centrifugal impeller to berotated therewith for boosting the uid ilow toward the Venturi-likeoutlet. a

12. .A pump having, in combination, a powerin communication with thesaid :duid-exit passage ofY the stationary chamber, a centrifugalimpeller on the external periphery of the bulbouslike chamber andextending into the :duid-exit passage or thestationary chamber to dividethe said chamber into separate axially'algned com-v partments, and meanswithin each compartment and reducing the cross area of the compartmentat the inlet to the said centrifugal impeller to provide a Venturi-like.passage and through A throughwbichthe v134A vpump having, u;combination, a rotary centrifugal impeller, a. stationary chamber aboutthe periphery'of and having separate A non-communicating compartments`for receiving the centrifugal discharge from the impeller, said vchamberhaving acentral circumferentially extending outlet orice common to andopening radially outward of the said compartments, means outletoriiiceqto provide ineach' compartment a Venturi-like passage connectingthe compartment of the chamber with the outlet orice, and

a peripheral outlet chamber in .communication with the said orifice. l

14. A pump having, in' combination, av rotary centrifugal impeller, astationary chamber about the periphery of the impeller forA receivingthe centrifugal discharge 'from the impeller and having a centralcircumierentially extending outlet `concentric with and facing radiallyoutward of 4the impeller, means integral with' said impeller 'andextending into the said chamber and its outlet to partitionthe chamberinto oppositely disposed compartments having separate duid-outlet,passages, said partition means including radially disposed bucketsoperatively associated with the said fluid-outlet passages to receivethe iiud passing therethrough, removable annular Lmembers within thechamber and concentric with the par-v tition means, said memberscollectively being of a configuration4 producing areduction in the crosssectional area of the chamber and being relatively arranged adjacentopposite sides of the partition means to provide Ventiu'i-like passagesthrough which the fluid of the compartments passes into the buckets ofthe partition means, and a peripheral outlet chamber in communicationwith the said buckets to receive the uid discharged therefrom. I 4

lfiLA'v pump comprising a power-driven hollow rotor of ellipticalbulbous contour having oppositely inlet openings and multiple drivenrotor having a uuid-receiving chamber of Y into the buckets.

outlet apertures in its periphery, induction spirals discharging intosaid inlet openings, radial compartments in said hollow rotororreceiving the discharge from the said spirals and expelling same throughthe outlet apertures, a stationary `chamber surrounding the rotor randhaving a 'peripheral passage concentric with and opening radially andcircumierentially outward of and in the equatorial plane of the rotor,impeller means integral with said rotor and including oppositelydisposed radial buckets on the periphery of the rotor and extendingthrough the peripheral outlet. passage of the stationary chamber, saidbuckets being open to the chamber on their outer sides and tips and tothe interior of the rotor through bottom apertures, said chamber beingof reduced cross sectional area in the vicinity of the peripheral outletto provide on each side of the buckets an annular Venturi-like orificethrough which discharge is-eiective from the chamber 1an. uuid-pumphaving", `rotatable tube-having an inlet andan outlet,

i a screw vmounted inr said tube to -be rotated therewith, impellerelements on the end of the screw adjacent the inlet of the tube to impelfluid toward the screw, and impeller elements secured tothe inlet tubein outwardly spaced relation to the impeller elements of the screw forcasting iiuid toward the screw impeller elements.

mudar the committment ktoth'esaillililllelhil'-,

in combination, a

. extending in planes bisecting eachother along 17. Avuid pump havingtincombination; a rothe axis of the screws, and blade elements protatabl'etube having an inlet and an outlet, a prluvided at the outer edges ofthe said van and rality of co-axial screws mounted in said tubeangularLv inclined to impel iiuid into the inlet to be rotatedtherewith, said screws terminating of the tube.

adjacent the inlet of the tube in straight venes 5 WL'IER, K. BURGESS.

